Calipari triumphant in debut without any

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.– John Calipari won his debut as Arkansas’ coach when the 16th-ranked Razorbacks held back a second-half rally by Lipscomb and pulled away for a 76-60 triumph Wednesday night.

“We did great things. It was a good first win versus a team’s that’s going to win a lot of games,” Calipari said.Freshman guard

Boogie Fland scored 17 points and Florida Atlantic transfer Johnell Davis had 15 for Arkansas.Editor’s Picks

1 Associated Calipari, who left Southeastern Conference competing Kentucky after last season, had actually previously been booed persistently whenever stepping foot in Bud Walton Arena.That all altered

when Eric Musselman, who coached Arkansas to 3 Sweet 16s in 5 seasons, departed last spring for USC and Calipari bolted from the bluegrass of Kentucky for the foothills of the Ozarks.”I more than happy to be training here. I’m happy. I’m loving the team,” Calipari said.His new team looked a lot like his old ones.Lipscomb(1-1), the Atlantic Sun preseason favorite, put a scare

into the Razorbacks(1-0)with a second-half go to pull to within four points with just under seven minutes to play. Arkansas had led by 15 in the second half.Zvonimir Ivisic, among 7 players to make their Razorbacks launching Wednesday, hit a

3-pointer, a layup and two complimentary tosses in the span of a minute to stop the Bisons.Ivisic finished with 12 points. Jacob Ognacevic led Lipscomb with 16. Arkansas gets its first power-conference difficulty of the season Saturday when the Razorbacks travel to Dallas for a neutral-site game versus No. 8 Baylor, which is coming off a 101-63 loss at No. 6 Gonzaga.The Associated Press added to this report.